During a visit to the Negreni Fair in Romania, I came across this Zeiss Ikon Ikonta 520/2 G. At first glance it looked to be in remarkably good condition for a camera approaching a century in age, and at 200 lei, it was difficult to leave behind.
After a quick inspection, I decided to take the chance. The shutter appeared to fire correctly, the aperture was functioning smoothly, and the lens looked surprisingly clear. Cameras of this age often come with problems ranging from seized shutters to damaged bellows, so I was expecting at least a few issues.
Introduced around 1930, the Ikonta 520/2 G is a folding medium format camera designed for 120 film, producing large 6×9 cm negatives. This example is fitted with a Zeiss Dominar-Anastigmat 105mm f/4.5 lens and a Telma shutter. Despite being around ninety years old, it remains largely functional, with all shutter speeds, Bulb mode, Time mode, and even the self-timer still operating.
The first test roll has already been through the camera and the results are promising. There are some scratches visible on the negatives which will need further investigation, but otherwise the camera appears to be working exactly as intended. Not bad for a 1930s folding camera found at a market stall.
